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How to save money on countertops

By Catherine Woods, Contributing writer

With many people staying in their homes longer because of tough economic times, remodels are becoming more and more popular. Saving money on expensive remodels, like kitchens, is very important. With kitchen countertops being one of the largest expenses, it is a great place to start saving money. Here are a few things you can do to save money on your kitchen countertop purchase.

Paint Them One of the least expensive options to get a new look is to paint your countertops. If your countertops are still in good condition but are ugly, start looking into techniques to paint your countertops to resemble granite. Many homeowners today have done this with great success and have posted tips to help you. With only around $100 in supplies you can have a whole new look.

Surplus Stores Home improvement surplus stores have become a great way to save money on a multitude of home improvement items. Most of these stores have a variety of countertop options to include laminate, tile, and granite for much less than what you would pay at big box retailers. If you go to your local surplus store and do not find what you are looking for, do not give up. Surplus stores get shipments in frequently, so check back often.

Mosaic Countertop You have probably seen the standard tile countertop in many kitchens, but there is a cheaper and more unique option, mosaic countertops. Broken ceramic tile can be found for free or cheap and is the perfect candidate for this type of countertop. Not only is this an extremely cheap option for a new countertop, but it is an easy do-it-yourself job which saves you the cost of installation as well.

Granite Tile If you are in the market for granite you can still save money. Granite tile has become a very popular trend because it is easy to install yourself and can cost up to 1/3 less per square foot than a granite slab. You will still have the durability and beauty of granite but for much less. The only real problem with the tile option is it is a little harder to clean, but if you can handle this it is well worth the savings.

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